The foundation of any weight loss plan, whether for getting rid of belly fat or overall fitness, is diet and exercise. How much we eat, and how much we burn off, is what leads to successful long-term weight loss. Within those parameters, what we eat makes a huge difference—and supplements can also give your fat-burning efforts a boost. Here’s an affordable supplement that can help target not just belly fat but overall body fat, according to experts.
RELATED: 9 Ways to Slim Down Without Giving Up Your Favorite Foods.
Probiotics and Weight Loss
ShutterstockResearch shows probiotics could help with weight loss and fat-burning. “It won’t be magical – the pounds won’t melt away – but if you have a healthy microbiome, you may be more likely to be able to lose weight or at least not gain further weight,” Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, dean of Tufts’ Friedman School, tells AARP.
Obesity and the Gut Microbiome
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Research shows there is a link between obesity and the gut microbiome. “ZOE’s PREDICT program — the largest nutritional study of its kind, which has collected data on over 10,000 people — found that increased amounts of belly fat are associated with certain ‘bad’ gut bacteria,” says Rebecca Horton, BSc.
Probiotics In Supplements
ShutterstockThere are many great probiotics supplements on the market, like Pendulum, Love Wellness, BIOptimizers, and more. Ideally, take a probiotic after a meal. “In general, taking a probiotic during a meal or after a meal may help improve the probiotic’s survival versus taking it on an empty stomach,” says Maria L. Marco, PhD, via the Tufts Nutrition Letter. “Our stomach is normally very acidic, which kills microbes,” Marco says. “But after we eat, our stomach is less acidic, which would improve the probiotic’s ability to survive its passage through the stomach and into the small intestine, where it would be active. Even if the probiotic capsules are designed to resist stomach acid (or the microbes themselves, such as LGG, are resistant to acidic conditions), taking them with food adds another layer of protection.”
Probiotics In Foods
ShutterstockYogurts such as Ellenos are a fantastic source of probiotics, as is kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and miso. “There’s a world of difference between taking a probiotic supplement that contains the correct microbe for a specific medical condition versus taking a probiotic supplement containing a microbe that hasn’t been shown to be effective for that condition,” says Joel B. Mason, MD, via the Tufts Nutrition Letter. “With that said, the two microbes that most consistently have been shown to convey a benefit in conditions of interest are the bacteria Lactobacillus (L.) GG and the yeast Saccharomyces (S.) boulardii.”
Research Is Ongoing
Research continues into the impact probiotics have on body fat and weight loss. “There is compelling evidence, including observational and intervention studies, that suggests probiotics may support weight loss, as well as blood pressure and blood sugar control,” Mozaffarian says via the Tufts Nutrition Letter. “But, longer and larger clinical trials are needed to more conclusively demonstrate these benefits.”
